My Husband’s Best Friend’s Baby

I was in such a rush this morning that I grabbed his phone instead of mine. I didnt even realize the mistake until I was standing outside my best friends apartment, clutching the gold-embossed engagement invitations Id just picked up from the printers. I wanted to surprise her.

The moment I stepped into her foyer, the phone in my hand buzzed. A notification popped up: WiFi Connected.

My heart did a slow, sickening roll in my chest. Garrett had told me hed never been here. Hed barely even met her, or so he said.

My best friend, Melody, looked up from the sofa. She didnt look surprised to see me, or the phone. She just offered a thin, mocking smile.

"Stop lying to yourself, Donna," she said, her voice airy and casual. "For the last three years, every time he told you he was on a business trip? He was right here, in my bed."

I looked down at the invitations. Ten years of friendship with her. Three years of a life built with him. It all felt like a punchline to a joke I wasn't in on.

She reached into a side drawer and pulled out a slip of paper, waving it like a trophy. It was a lab report. Two months pregnant.

"The baby needs a legal father," she said, her eyes narrowing with a predatory glint. "If you still want to marry him, fine. You can be our live-in nanny. Free childcare, right?"

The front door clicked open. Garrett walked in, carrying a basket of organic fruit, looking every bit the doting partner. When he saw me, the smile on his face didn't just fadeit calcified into a mask of stone.

I didn't scream. I didn't cry. I simply folded the invitation, tucked it into my pocket, and walked toward the door.

From this moment on, the script of my life was being rewritten. And these two were no longer in the cast.

"What the hell are you doing running around with my phone?"

Garrett kicked off his loafers and tossed the fruit onto the entryway table. He glanced at the ultrasound photo in Melodys hand, then back at me. After a momentary flicker of panic, he straightened his cuffs and sat down beside her.

"Since youve seen it, theres no point in lying," he said. He looked up at me, his expression remarkably calm. "The report is real. Melody is pregnant. Its mine. Almost eight weeks."

In my pocket, I felt the sharp edges of the invitation crumple against my palm. "And?" I whispered. My voice sounded like it belonged to someone else.

Garrett frowned, clearly annoyed by my lack of hysterics. "Whats with the attitude? I haven't even brought up the fact that you went through my private messages."

He took a sip of water from a glass on the table, his tone shifting into something terrifyingly reasonable. "Look, after those two injuries you had, the doctors said your body couldn't handle the strain of a pregnancy. You can barely handle a long week at the office without collapsing. I want a family, Donna. Can you give me that? No. But Melody can. Shes doing this for us."

He leaned forward, entirely sincere. "When the baby is born, itll call you Mom. You get a child without the physical toll. Why are you acting like this is a bad thing?"

Ten years. I had gone hungry so he could finish his degree. I had signed my name to his debts when his first startup failed. I had nearly died twiceonce in a hit-and-run meant for him. And now, he was telling me that cheating on me with my best friend was an act of charity.

Melody leaned back, crossing her legs. "Donna, we grew up together. Youre the only sister Ive ever had." She lowered her eyes, her voice turning soft and fragile. "You know about my struggles... my clinical depression. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have made it through these years. We can all live together. My baby will be your baby."

She tilted her chin up, a flash of victory in her eyes. "Youve always wanted a family. Well, now its complete."

Garrett patted her hand. "See how mature shes being? Not like you, always so grim and moody lately."

He reached into his leather briefcase and tossed a document onto the coffee table. "Its a supplemental agreement. I had my lawyer draft it."

"The wedding goes ahead as planned. Youll still be my wife. But officially, Melody moves in as my 'cousin.' She needs the support during the pregnancy."

I stared at the paper. "A cousin? You want her to live in our house as your cousin?"

"Yes," Garrett nodded. "Her mental state is fragile. I cant leave her alone. What if she has another episode?"

"And after the baby is born?" I asked, my lips twisting into a ghost of a smile.

"Well register it under your name. Melody is young; she shouldnt be tied down by a child's paperwork yet." Garrett clicked a fountain pen and held it out to me. "Ill increase your monthly allowance by ten thousand. Thats your budget for the nursery and the help. Donna, dont be greedy. Im providing you with the best life possible. What more could you want?"

He looked into my eyes, and I realized with a shudder that he truly believed he was the hero of this story. To him, I was a spent asseta loyal dog that had grown too old to hunt but was still useful for guarding the house.

Melody took the pen and forced it into my hand. "Sign it, Donna. If you don't, youre throwing away ten years for nothing. You dont even have a career anymore. Without Garrett, how will you even survive?"

The pen dug into my skin. I looked at the two of them, and for the first time, the tragedy of it all felt like a farce. Ten years of my life, traded for a contract that made me a pro-bono nanny in my own home.

I set the pen down. "Im not signing this."

Garretts face darkened instantly. "Don't be ungrateful. Ive lived with the guilt of what happened to you for years. This child is a gift to you. What is there to fight about?"

He stood up, looming over me. "You know how delicate Melody is. If you stress her out and something happens to the baby, thats on you. Im giving you one last chance. Sign it."

I looked at her. Melody had been my shadow since the orphanage. When she was diagnosed with depression, I stayed up every night for a year just to make sure she was still breathing. I thought I was saving her life. It turns out she was just using her life to hijack mine.

I stood up and pulled the invitation from my pocket, dropping it into the trash can. "Ill think about it."

I turned and walked out.

Behind me, I heard Garrett sit back down. "I knew youd come around," he called out. "Make sure you pick out the rings tomorrow. Melody said she liked that limited edition watchget one for her while youre at the jeweler."

That night, I went back to the penthouse we shared. I punched the code into the smart lock. Error.

I froze. I tried again. Incorrect Code.

The mechanical female voice echoed in the silent hallway. I stared at the door I had walked through for five years, suddenly feeling like a trespasser.

Two hours later, the elevator dinked open. Garrett walked out, Melodys arm looped through his.

"What are you doing? Standing here like a gargoyle?" Garrett asked, spotting me.

"The code is wrong," I said.

Garrett tapped his forehead. "Right. Melody said the old numbers were bad luck. Bad juju for the baby. I changed it."

He stepped forward and punched in Melodys birthday. The lock clicked open.

I followed them inside, but when I reached for my slippers in the foyer, they were gone. In their place was a pair of plush, brand-new slippers in Melodys size.

"Your old ones were falling apart, so I tossed them," Garrett said over his shoulder. "Melody is moving in; she needed space for her things."

He led her straight toward the primary suite. I followed, stopping dead at the threshold.

My desk had been cleared. My books and filesthe remnants of the career Id put on hold to support hiswere shoved into cardboard boxes. The walk-in closet was hanging wide open; half of my clothes were gone, replaced by silk dresses and designer bags I recognized as hers.

"Garrett, what the hell is this?" I pointed at the decimated closet.

Garrett was pouring a glass of lukewarm water, not even bothering to look at me. "Shes moving in. She needs room."

"I had the housekeeper move your things to the guest room. Youll be sleeping there for the next few months."

Melody was already reclining on the bed, scrolling through her phone. She looked up, her eyes brimming with faux-concern. "Donna, you aren't mad, are you? My nerves have been so shot lately... I can't sleep in new places. This room is so much quieter. Its better for the baby. Youve always been so good to me; I knew you wouldn't mind."

I looked at her facethe same face that had wept on my shoulder a thousand timesand felt a sudden, cold lack of desire to argue.

The next morning, I sat at the breakfast bar with a bowl of oatmeal. Garrett walked out of the bedroom, phone to his ear. He hit the speakerphone button right in front of me.

"Yeah, is this the wedding planner? This is Garrett. I need to change the name on the welcome signage. The bride's name is Melody."

My spoon stopped halfway to my mouth.

There was a pause on the other end. "Mr. Morgan... what about Ms. Thorne?"

Garrett glanced at me. "Ms. Thorne? Oh, shes the maid of honor now."

He hung up and took a sip of his coffee. "Melodys dream has always been a big wedding. With her condition being so unstable, I need you to play along. Weve been together forever anyway; the ceremony is just a formality for us. Let her have the 'bride' title. Its just a role."

He said it so casually, as if he were asking me to pass the salt.

Melody emerged from the bedroom wearing one of my silk robes, wrapping her arms around Garretts neck. "Youre the best, Garrett."

She turned to me, smiling like an angel. "Donna, youll be my maid of honor, won't you? I want you to see my happiness from the best seat in the house."

Garrett tapped the counter. "Well? Dont be petty, Donna. Its just a label."

I looked down at my oatmeal. Ten years of sacrifice, erased by a single sentence.

"Fine," I said.

Garrett beamed. "Thats my girl. I knew we could be a team."

"The gala is tonight. Wear something understated. Dont upstage Melody."

Garrett tossed an old, grey cocktail dress onto the sofa. Behind him stood Melody, draped in custom couture, wearing a diamond-encrusted watch that probably cost more than my first car.

"Garrett, how do I look?" Melody spun in front of the mirror.

Garrett stepped toward her, adjusting her necklace with a tender touch I hadn't seen in years. "Beautiful. Youre going to be the only thing anyone looks at tonight."

He turned to me, his brow furrowing. "Why are you still sitting there? Go get changed. Were on a schedule."

I picked up the grey dress and went to the guest room. By the time I came out, they were gone. They hadn't even waited for me.

I took an Uber to the hotel. When I pushed open the doors to the ballroom, I saw Garrett holding a champagne flute, laughing with a group of investors. Melody was at his side, looking every bit the high-society wife.

I walked over, intending to stand behind Garrett as I always did.

"Garrett, who is this lovely lady?" one of the investors asked, nodding toward Melody.

Garrett raised his glass, his smile radiant. "Let me introduce you. This is my fiance, Melody."

A chorus of compliments followed. "A perfect match," they said. "The power couple of the year."

Another guest, someone who had known us since the early days, recognized me. "Wait, then who is Donna?"

The air in the circle went still. People looked at me with a mixture of pity and confusion. Garrett didn't even turn his head to look at me.

"Her? Thats just my sister."

Ten years of being his partner, his backbone, his everythingand I had been relegated to a sister. He didn't even have the decency to give me a dignified exit. He just erased me.

I retreated to a corner, watching Melody soak up the adoration. Mid-way through the night, she walked toward me, a glass of red wine in her hand.

"Oops!"

She feigned a stumble, and half a glass of Cabernet splashed across the front of my grey dress. The cold liquid soaked through the fabric, dripping onto the floor. I looked like a disaster.

"Oh, Donna! I am so, so sorry! Im such a klutz lately," Melody cried out, but her eyes were dancing with malice.

Garrett rushed over, but he didn't check on me. He shoved me aside to grab Melodys hand. "Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?"

Then he turned to me, his voice a sharp hiss. "What is wrong with you? Why were you standing so close? You almost ruined her dress! Go to the restroom and clean yourself up. Stop making a scene."

I didn't say a word. I turned and walked toward the exit.

After the gala ended, we stood in the parking garage waiting for the valet. Melody let out a small whimper. "Garrett, I think I twisted my ankle. It hurts."

Garrett looked at me. "Donna, come here and help her walk."

Melody leaned her weight on my shoulder. As Garrett turned his back to look for the car, she leaned in, her voice a poisonous whisper in my ear. "So, 'sister,' how does it feel to be the help?"

I stopped walking. I looked at the smug curve of her lips.

Garrett looked back, his patience gone. "Donna, move it! The keys are in your clutch, stop stalling!"

I stood perfectly still.

"Give them to me!" Garrett barked.

I reached into my bag, pulled out the keys, and let them drop. They hit the concrete with a sharp, metallic ring.

Garrett stared at the keys on the floor, stunned.

I didn't look at him. I walked to the curb and hailed a taxi.

When I got back to the "guest room," I opened my phone. There were over three thousand photos in my gallerythe history of us. I hit Select All and Delete. One by one, our memories vanished into a digital void. I cleared our chat history. I blocked his number.

A final notification popped up before I finisheda text from him. Don't forget the bridesmaid fitting tomorrow. Melody wants you in pale pink.

I didn't reply.

In the corner of the room, three packed suitcases sat silently against the wall.

"This pink really brings out your skin tone, Donna. Try it on."

Melody was standing in her custom lace wedding gown, looking like a dream. She shoved a generic, polyester bridesmaid dress into my arms.

Garrett was sitting on the boutiques velvet sofa, scrolling through his emails. "Just put it on. Don't keep her waiting."

I went into the dressing room. When I came out, Melody was holding Garretts hand, giggling.

"Garrett, am I the most beautiful bride youve ever seen?"

He looked up, and for a second, his eyes actually softened. "The most beautiful. You look perfect in everything."

Melody turned to me, patting my shoulder with a saccharine sweetness. "Donna, youre happy for us, right? Weve been sisters for ten years. I dont want to lose our friendship."

She adjusted her veil in the mirror. "Were going to be a family. My baby will call you Mom. Youll stay home, help with the house, and Garrett will pay you a salary. Youll never have to worry about money again."

Garrett nodded in agreement. "Shes being sincere, Donna. Shes looking out for you. Just stay in your lane, keep the house running, and stop the drama."

I looked at their facesso smug, so certain of their own righteousness. She had stolen my life, and she expected me to thank her for the privilege of being her servant.

I took the bridesmaid dress and tossed it onto the sofa. "Im done."

Garrett stood up. "Donna, what is your problem now?"

I didn't answer. I walked out of the shop.

That afternoon was the rehearsal at the chapel. I watched from the pews as Melody walked down the aisle toward him. I felt like a ghost watching a play.

When it was over and the crowd dispersed, I sat alone in the empty chapel, staring at the altar. Garrett came back in to grab a forgotten clutch bag. He saw me and hesitated, then sat down in the pew next to me.

"Donna, I know this is hard," he sighed. "I haven't forgotten everything you did for me. Once the baby is here, Ill make it up to you. Ill buy you whatever you want. Anythingexcept the title of my wife."

I turned my head to look at his profile. "Garrett." My voice was hollow. "In ten years... was there ever a single moment where you felt sorry for what you were doing to me?"

His hand froze on his cufflink. He turned to look at me, and after a long silence, he straightened his suit.

"Donna, I gave you ten great years. I took you from a basement apartment to a penthouse. You wore the best clothes, ate at the best tables. My conscience is clear."

Clear.

That word snapped the final thread. He knew exactly what he was doing. He just didn't think I mattered enough for it to be a crime.

"Okay," I said, standing up and brushing the dust off my skirt. "I understand."

At 4:00 AM the next morning, Garrett woke up thirsty. He walked out of the master suite and noticed a strange silence in the house.

The guest room door was wide open. The bed was made, perfectly flat, as if no one had ever touched it. The closet was empty. In the bathroom, my toothbrush was gone.

He frowned and dialed my number.

"The number you have dialed is no longer in service."

The color drained from his face. He ran to the garage. My car was still there, but on the passenger seat lay a white envelope.

He ripped it open. A ring fell out.

It was the cheap, gold-plated ring hed bought me at a street fair ten years ago with his very first paycheck. The plating had worn off long ago, revealing the dull brass underneath.

There was no letter. No note. Just a boarding pass stub tucked under the ring.

Departure: 4:00 AM.

The destination had been blacked out with a heavy marker.

Garrett gripped the stub, his fingers shaking. He hit redial over and over, but the mechanical voice was his only companion. He slumped against the car door, the silence of the garage suddenly feeling like a tomb.